new member

Hi All, I've been lurking for a few weeks now & have decided to make a profile...it's still in progress as I learn all the nifty things that are available on this site. I'm having lap band surgery on March 5th and Dr. Baker is my surgeon.  I'm a nervous wreck but that is just me.  I was afraid having my wisdom teeth removed.  I'm not a touchy person & do not even like to have my hair done in a salon and I'm going into surgery, elective surgery at that!?  Anyway, just wanted to crawl out of my shell & introduce myself. I hope to learn from all of you and cheer the newcomers on as my "newness" fades with the future.  :) 

HI! First of all, welcome to the board. I know that sometimes its hard to put yourself out there BUT it is well worth it here. (I'm VERY shy too) We are ALL here to help you in any way that we can. I had LapBand also but my surgeon was Dr. Wellborn. I was nervous but everything went great. No problems at all. I'm sure it will be that way for you too!! Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and welcome. If you need anything or have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask. Hopefully we will be able to answer it, but if not then we will be able to point you in the right direction to find someone who can.  Take care of yourself. Congratulations on your new journey. Keep us posted on how you are doing!   Karen

Thanks Karen for the warm welcome.  :)

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!     We're glad you're here.

Hi and welcome to our board!!  We are a friendly bunch of people and if you have any questions feel free to post!  My name is Evelyn and I had open RNY (gastric bypass) Aug 15th. 

Welcome to the forum!  I'm glad you decided to make a profile and speak!  The more the merrier!   (You may want to fix your surgery year.  Until I read your post, I assumed you had lapband in 2007.) 

Thanks--I totally did not realize I did that but have fixed it.  My surgery is coming up...3 days...I'm excited yet nervous.  I am afraid of pain.   Can anyone else tell me if they've had excess swelling since the HMR shakes?  I've been on them for almost 2 weeks and I had some chicken broth then started swelling--stopped the broth, thought it was the sodium but I'm even worse off now.  I did just start my cycle but I have never been this swollen with water retention except when I had my babies!  This is very uncomfortable & I know that I have probably 3 lbs of just fluid that I would like to see drop off the scale.  Any pointers?  Did this happen to anyone else during the protein shake phase? 

I lost fluid (mainly in my ankles & feet) on the HMR shakes. Are you getting in enough fluid?  Back when I was doing the pre-op diet, Courtney at Dr. Baker's office told me to drink 2 quarts of diluted juice each day (half water & half 100% juice) in addition to the shakes.  I was so full from juice that I only drank 4 shakes a day most days (and I was allowed 5).

All I ever drink is water and unsweet tea...before the thought of WLS and now...I don't care for soda and juice is even worse.  Maybe I am not drinking enough water though.  I am only doing 4 shakes a day also--they are so filling!  I'm allowed 5 but have yet to drink 5 and today is my last day on HMR.  Tomorrow is clear liquids.  To me, clear liquids is water!?  Courtney said I could have jello and broth?  Broth just has so much sodium in it & I'm already having an issue.  I'm so afraid Dr. Baker is going to cancel me b/c I've only lost 7 lbs.